Born in Cambridgeshire, England, Kate Vogel studied at Santa Reperata Graphic Center in Florence, Italy, and received a Bachelor of Science in Art from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. John Littleton was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He later studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Michigan, and also received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Littleton and Vogel, husband and wife, have worked together in their studio near Penland, North Carolina, since 1980. They are perhaps best known for their colorful, playful Acrobags, which started as a happy accident. Their newer cast pieces are a dramatic departure from the lighthearted bags. Faces and hands are formed in various poses and combination to explore states of mind, relationships, and even spiritual themes. Their work is in a variety of private and public collections including the White House Craft Collection and Federal Reserve Bank, Washington, D.C.; the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; the Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri; and the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; among others.
